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After Luzerne County Lt. Sheriff Donald Lasoski, a K-9 officer, was forced to resign last week for taking $375 from a sheriff's department petty cash fund, the county controller said Wednesday the possibility of a full audit on the department's accounting practices is "under investigation."

Though Lasoski, who denied taking the cash in an interview with The Citizens' Voice last week but admitted the theft to The Times Leader in a story Wednesday, returned the money, he is still in possession of other county property. Namely, one bomb-sniffing German shepherd.

The sheriff's department doesn't currently have anyone who can handle the animal, interim Sheriff Jack Robshaw said Wednesday and Lasoski said last week he was attempting to purchase it from the county. He refused to comment Wednesday.

The dog's fate has not yet been determined, county Solicitor David Pedri said, but added that all county property will be returned or sold.

A new bomb-sniffing German shepherd cost the Lackawanna Sheriff's Department $15,500 after training, Deputy Sheriff Dominick Manetti said, but acknowledged that dogs usually retire after about seven years and spend their golden years with their K-9 officers.

Robshaw said the Luzerne County bomb sniffer is reaching "the end of its lifespan," though he didn't know its exact age.

Regarding the theft, Robshaw welcomed the new controller to come look at his department's books and cash practices.

"I think it's quite evident from this situation that we do have policies and procedures in place that truly and accurately account for the assets of Luzerne County," Robshaw said.

"We have nothing to hide," he added.

Former controller Walter L. Griffith Jr. tangled with the sheriff's department in the past two years, criticizing what he called its "sloppy" accounting practices. Pedri has denied that accusation, and Robshaw called Griffith's audits of his office "merely political attacks."

Walter Mitchell, the current county controller, said his office would likely decide by the end of the week whether to conduct a forensic audit of the sheriff department, an investigation he called "very extensive and very expensive."

"I'm certainly not afraid to call for one," Mitchell said. "My office is empowered to do so. But first things first, let's find out what happened, let's find out why it happened, and if there are enough red flags that go up â¦ our office will do so."

pcameron@citizensvoice.com

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